Dharruk
A 0.94 sq km footprint holds 2,806 residents at 2,979.7 people per sq km, giving Dharruk a compact, dense setting despite a 97.4% separate-house share. Overseas-born residents account for 39.5%, 17.9 percentage points above the national figure, while the median age of 35 is 5 years below it. The result is a family-oriented western Sydney suburb with strong cultural breadth alongside low-rise streets. Compared with nearby Emerton and Lethbridge Park, Dharruk suits buyers wanting established detached housing close to everyday services, while its 3.0-person households are larger than the national average.
Local council: Blacktown
Population
2,806
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,467/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Dharruk is primarily a detached-house market: 97.4% of occupied dwellings are separate houses, while 68.4% have 3 bedrooms and 26.5% have 4 or more. That mix favours families needing usable internal space rather than apartment buyers. The typical mortgage payment is $1,733 a month, with mortgage costs at 27.3% of household income, higher than the 23.9% rent-to-income figure. Compared with smaller-unit markets, buyers should focus on block condition, renovation scope, parking and drainage at the individual address. An average household size of 3.0 people also supports demand for flexible family layouts.
For Buyers
Dharruk is primarily a detached-house market: 97.4% of occupied dwellings are separate houses, while 68.4% have 3 bedrooms and 26.5% have 4 or more. That mix favours families needing usable internal space rather than apartment buyers. The typical mortgage payment is $1,733 a month, with mortgage costs at 27.3% of household income, higher than the 23.9% rent-to-income figure. Compared with smaller-unit markets, buyers should focus on block condition, renovation scope, parking and drainage at the individual address. An average household size of 3.0 people also supports demand for flexible family layouts.
For Investors
Dharruk presents a moderate-rent, detached-housing investment profile. Weekly rent is $350, vacancy is 3.8%, and 32.5% of households rent, creating an established tenant base but not a clear high-yield case without a current purchase price. The 97.4% separate-house share can support family rental demand, while 14 development applications in 12 months include secondary dwellings that may add competing supply. Compared with a tightly held market, the 3.8% vacancy rate calls for careful property selection, especially around presentation, parking and floorplan. Healthcare accounts for 19.6% of local employment, which may support rental demand from essential-service households.
Development Activity
Total DAs
84
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Dharruk
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Dharruk's median age is 35, 5 years below the national figure, and its average household size is 3.0 people, 0.5 above national. Overseas-born residents make up 39.5%, 17.9 percentage points above the national share, while university attainment is 22.6%, 7.5 points below it. Christianity is the largest recorded religion at 1,435 people, followed by no religion at 570 and Islam at 377. Arabic is the leading listed language at 116 people, with Hindi and Samoan each at 40. Compared with nearby western Sydney suburbs, the household mix points to family networks and culturally varied service needs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.4%
Houses
1.3%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Dharruk's housing stock is unusually consistent: 97.4% of dwellings are separate houses, versus 1.4% apartments and 1.3% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties account for 68.4%, higher than the 26.5% share of 4-plus-bedroom homes, so floorplan and land size matter more than apartment amenity. Tenure is split between 29.5% outright owners, 37.2% with a mortgage and 32.5% renters. Weekly rent is $350 and vacancy is 3.8%, with rent-to-income at 23.9%. Compared with a more rental-heavy suburb, this owner presence can support stable streets, although the 27.3% mortgage-to-income share still warrants budgeting for repairs and rate changes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $350.
$530
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $550 · units $480
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$556
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.8%
Unoccupied
34
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.9%
Couples with children
26.9%
Couples, no children
24.1%
Single parent
715
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Dharruk's largest listed industry at 19.6% and 87 workers, followed by construction at 9.4% and 42, manufacturing and education at 9.2% and 41 each, and transport at 9.0% and 40. Occupations lean towards machinery and drivers with 179 people, labourers with 132, and clerical or administration workers with 125, alongside 105 professionals. The participation rate is 45.5%, unemployment is 8.6%, and household income sits at percentile 45.1, below the midpoint. Compared with higher-income employment hubs, this mix suggests household budgets are more exposed to fuel, commuting and job-cycle pressures, while healthcare and education provide some sector diversity.
Unemployment
8.6%
Labour Force
979
Unemployed
84
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
27.9%
Participation
45.5%
Employed
895
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.6%
Postgraduate
5.4%
Born Overseas
39.5%
Dwellings
868
Transport to Work
Dharruk's compact 0.94 sq km footprint makes local errands potentially practical, but daily travel is strongly car-oriented: 66.8% drive as car occupants, compared with 3.3% using public transport and 0.7% walking or cycling. Work-from-home reaches 21.9%, which may reduce some commuting pressure. Dawson Public School is the named local government primary option; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across nearby streets. With 2,979.7 people per sq km, compare specific streets, lighting, parking and transport access before choosing a home. Compared with a transit-led area, Dharruk is better suited to households with reliable car access.
Drive
66.8%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
21.9%
Growth Outlook
Dharruk's current growth profile looks incremental rather than speculative. The suburb has 2,806 residents, 82.6% stayed at the same address and turnover is 17.4%, indicating a settled base. Fourteen development applications across 12 months, including secondary dwellings, point to small-scale infill rather than a large apartment pipeline. Compared with a high-turnover suburb, this combination suggests change will be shaped by extensions, granny flats and household replacement. The 97.4% separate-house share reinforces that pattern, because new supply is more likely to modify existing lots than transform the streetscape. Buyers should monitor approvals and owner-occupier demand before assuming rapid appreciation.
Population trend: Blacktown council area
Dharruk sits in the Blacktown council area. These are the council area's residents, not Dharruk's.
Residents 2025
449,385
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dharruk compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dharruk a good suburb to live in?
Dharruk can suit households seeking established detached housing and family-sized layouts. About 97.4% of dwellings are separate houses, average household size is 3.0 people and density is 2,979.7 people per sq km. Compared with apartment-focused suburbs, car dependence and address-level school access deserve attention.
What is the median house price in Dharruk?
A current median house price should be verified from recent sales rather than assumed. Dharruk is 97.4% separate houses, with 68.4% three-bedroom homes and 26.5% four-plus-bedroom homes, so compare similar dwelling types, land sizes and renovation levels before relying on a suburb-wide figure.
What schools are in Dharruk?
Dawson Public School is the named local school, and it is a government primary school. Families should check the exact address, year level and current intake rules because enrolment boundaries can differ between nearby streets. Dharruk's 0.94 sq km area makes practical access important, while 66.8% car travel indicates many households drive to schools and services.
Is Dharruk safe?
Safety is best judged at street level using current police information and an inspection at different times of day. Dharruk has 2,806 residents across 0.94 sq km, and its compact detached layout means lighting, sightlines, parking and activity can differ between streets. Compare the exact property with nearby addresses rather than relying on a broad suburb label.
Is Dharruk good for property investment?
Dharruk may suit investors targeting detached family rentals rather than apartments. Weekly rent is $350, vacancy is 3.8% and 32.5% of households rent. However, 14 development applications in 12 months include secondary dwellings, which could add local competition. Compared with markets where rents are higher, purchase price, maintenance and achievable yield should be tested carefully.
How is Dharruk's population changing?
Dharruk has 2,806 residents today. The suburb appears relatively settled, with 82.6% of residents staying at the same address and 17.4% turnover. Fourteen development applications in 12 months, including secondary dwellings, point to gradual infill rather than a large release of new housing. Compared with a high-turnover suburb, change is more likely to come through household replacement and small additions than rapid expansion.
What languages are spoken in Dharruk?
Dharruk has a substantial overseas-born population at 39.5%, 17.9 percentage points above the national share. Arabic is the largest listed language at 116 people, followed by Hindi and Samoan at 40 each, Urdu at 37 and Bengali at 12. Compared with the national profile, these figures support clear information for multilingual households assessing schools, services and tenancy arrangements.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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